assumption of stupidity that would have been a triumph on the stage, sure it was pigs-fine little slips of boneens I had wid me-and be the same token,' he added with another glance at me, 'it's no more nor a quarther since I sowld the last of them, and they kep' me that constant on the market (bad cess to them) that sorra minit I had to taste bit or sup this day!'

So you never went to the meeting at all, Dan?' asked his landlord. Well, faix now, yer honor,' said Dan very slowly, while, glancing at me, he saw a smile on my face, 'I was nigh-hand it, sure enough, jist comin' back from me sisther's place -near the Green. Yer honor knows Darby Curtoyne, that does be daylin' in pigs. I consaited the boneens might fit Darby, an' I jist slipped down, lavin' a gossoon to mind the pigs, and whin I got to Darby's herself towld me Darby was after stepping up-jist wid curiosity like-to the meetin', and that's how I kem near it at all -sarchin' for Darby about the pigs.' Then turning to me and going through an inimitable pantomime of sudden recognition, he exclaimed, 'An' be the same token, I'm misdoubtin' but I seen this jintleman that's wid yer honor at the meetin' while I was sarchin' for Darby. Good evenin' to yer honor-I'm thinkin' we spoke this mornin', tho' myself didn't remimber yer honor at first.'

I returned his salutation, and I must admit that, despite his half-imploring look, I could not resist the fun of making further reference to our conversation.

'Yes,' I said, 'I do remember our meeting, and that we were interrupted by some persons who joined in the discussion we were having together.'

'Thrue for ye, sir,' said Dan with a solemn shake of his head, 'them fellows does be havin' shockin' notions these times; meself is no

schollard, but I'm towld there's turrible taychin' in some ov the 'Merican papers them town's-boys do be reedin'.'

'Yes,' I said, 'it does seem hard that the town tradesmen and idlers should think they have a right to your land!'

'Isn't it now, yer honor?' exclaimed Dan with more appearance of sincerity than he had yet shown. Particularly,' I added, with a glance at Mr. G., 'when there's plenty of spare land with the big fellows!'

'Oh, wirra, wirra!' exclaimed Dan with startling suddenness and with a puzzled stare, at the same time thrusting one hand deep into his breeches pocket. Oh, where's me ticket? Begorra, I'm misdoubtin' but I left it behind in Biddy's whin I tuk off me coat. Does yer honor think will I have time to get it before the thrain starts? Any ways I'll sthrive,' saying which, he turned suddenly and bolted off towards the door of the station.

'Bravo, Dan!' said Mr. G., with a laugh; and continued, turning to me, 'I suppose from what you hinted about the "big fellows" that my honest friend has been letting out a little in his cups this morning? There's not a more decent, hardworking, well-behaved, or in truth a more contented man in his parish than Dan, or one I would sooner trust to do what is honest and right; but when he gets a little whisky on board, he becomes what the country fellows call a "raal pathriot," and talks sham sedition with the best of them.' While my friend was speaking, Mr. A. and our other two travelling companions of the morning came up, and the bell ringing for a start, we all got into the train and set out on our return journey to Killarney.

It was dark ere we reached our destination, and the scene on our arrival was one of considerable confusion, there being not

a few of the third-class passengers the 'worse for drink,' while amongst the expectants on the platform there were also many who, like M. Taine's French visitor to Ireland, had evidently found 'le vin du pays diablement fort.' While we were watching the reception of the Dublin deputation, we were attracted by an unusual disturbance at the door of one carriage, where a crowd had gathered round an old farmer and his wife, both of whom were 'hearty,' and having mislaid their return tickets, were being called on by the officials to find them or to pay again.

'Bad cess to yer railway an' yer tickets,' shouted the old man, squaring up to the station-master, who had been called on to adjudicate. "The divil fly away wid yer consate that wouldn't take a daycent man's word that he was afther givin yiz his ticket afore!'

'Whom did you give it to?' asked the station-master.

buckeen?'

'What's that to you, ye shouted the other; and turning to his old wife, who, now half sobered with fright, was stealthily searching her husband's pockets for the missing cards, 'didn't ye see me give the tickets, Nancy, wid, yer own two eyes?

"I did in throth, Larry,' said Nancy, half sobbing, but still busy with her search, I did see ye, an' be the same token here they are!' she cried triumphantly, producing the lost tickets from Larry's breechespocket, and waving them in the face of the laughing station-master. 'Now, ye robber!' shouted Larry, as, freed from the grasp of the porters, he prepared to retire. 'Now, ye robber, niver let on ye worn't ped agin or it 'ul be the worse for ye;' then in a sort of audible aside he cried out, 'Oh, thin, Hoam Rewel jewl! whin will ye come? Thin ther'll be free cars for everyone, an' no dirty blaggards to be axin' honest min for tickets!' with which pro

phecy Larry and his faithful Nancy marched out of the station amidst the cheers of the laughing crowd.

'Valuable property shares in the G. S. & W. Railway will be when Larry's political hopes are realised!' said Mr. G. as, in company with his friend, he kindly walked with me to the door of my hotel. . 'Poor Larry's notion,' said his companion, 'is not more painfully absurd that that of an old fellow who works in my garden, and who asked me yesterday quite seriously if it wasn't true that" when Home Rule kem" there would be five shillings a day for every man, and no laws.'

'It is indeed very distressing to see the poor people deluded in the way they are, and to feel oneself perfectly powerless to prevent it,' observed Mr. G. 'However, we must, I suppose, be satisfied to watch and wait, and hope for better things.'

We had now reached the door of the hotel, where, after many thanks on my part for the civility and kindness I had received, I parted from Mr. G. and his companion with a promise to meet them on the morrow, and see, if we could, the humours of the coming local meeting.

Alas, however, for the instability of human hopes! As I entered the coffee-room a telegram was put into my hand, which I found to contain an immediate recall to London. As in any case it was impracticable to start before seven the next morning, and I was most anxious to witness the proceedings of the following day's meeting on the enemy's ground,' I telegraphed to London strongly urging the postponement of my recall. But it was to no purpose. The business for which I was wanted was imperative, and the only hope held out to me was that possibly I might be allowed to return to Ireland for the nomination! There was nothing for it but to obey, so I duly set out the next morning on my way to